Air-permeable elastomeric bra cup

ABSTRACT

A bra cup includes a convexo-concave body having an inner face and an outer face. The body is a silicone foamed elastomer made from a first silicon oil containing OH functional group and a second silicon oil containing H functional group. The body includes a plurality of holes in an interior and a surface of the body, providing an air-permeable, elastomeric structure. The bra cup is light, soft, elastomeric, air-permeable, durable, and non-deformable while providing wearing comfort and providing an aesthetically pleasing effect.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a bra cup. In particular, the presentinvention relates to an air-permeable bra cup.

2. Description of the Related Art

Bras may provide a support for the bosom of the user while providing anaesthetically pleasing appearance. FIG. 1 of the drawings illustrates aconventional bra cup 90 comprising an inner layer of cloth 93, an outerlayer of cloth 92, and a padding member 91 between the layers of cloth92 and 93, providing a convexo-concave structure. The padding member 91is generally made of polyurethane foam (PU foam) or polyvinyl alcoholfoam (PVA foam) or a combination thereof. Since these materials arethermoplastic, the elastomericity and thermal stability of the resultantpadding member 91 are not satisfactory. Further, the padding member 91is apt to deform.

The padding member 91 is formed by heating the material to a temperatureof 170-190° C. at a high pressure for a long period of time to obtainthe required convexo-concave outline at the cost of the elastomericityand softness. Further, the air-permeability of the padding member 91 isscarified, as the edges of the padding member 91 are greatly compressed.Further, the color of the layers of cloth 92 and 93 changes and theelastomericity of the layers of cloth 92 and 93 is adversely affectedwhen proceeding with long-term high-temperature/high-pressure bonding ofthe padding member 91 and the layers of cloth 92 and 93.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide a bra cup that issoft, highly elastomeric, durable, non-deformable, and shock-absorptive.Another objective of the present invention is to provide a bra cup thatcan be in intimate contact with the skin of the user and that isair-permeable to provide wearing comfort while providing anaesthetically pleasing appearance.

A bra cup in accordance with the present invention comprises aconvexo-concave body including an inner face and an outer face. The bodyis a silicone foamed elastomer made from a first silicon oil containingOH functional group and a second silicon oil containing H functionalgroup. The body includes a plurality of holes in an interior and asurface of the body, providing an air-permeable, elastomeric structure.The bra cup is light, soft, elastomeric, air-permeable, durable, andnon-deformable while providing wearing comfort and providing anaesthetically pleasing effect.

In an embodiment, the inner face of the body comprises a bulged lowersection.

In another embodiment, the body comprises a hollow lower section. Thebody may comprise two half pieces that are bonded together. Further, thebody may comprise a bladder mounted in the hollow lower section.Preferably, the bladder contains fluid therein.

In a further embodiment, the body further comprises a layer ofair-permeable cloth mounted to the inner face thereof and a layer ofair-permeable cloth mounted to the outer face thereof for absorbingsweat.

Other objectives, advantages, and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional bra cup.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of a bra cup inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the bra cup inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the bra in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a third embodiment of the bra cup inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the bra inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the bra inaccordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 2, a first embodiment of a bra cup in accordance withthe present invention comprises a body 11 that is convexo-concave tosuit the profile of the bosom of a user. The body 11 includes an outerface 16 and an inner face 17. In this embodiment, the body 11 is made ofsilicone foamed elastomer. The body 11 includes a plurality of denselydistributed holes in the interior and the surface of the body 11,providing a highly air-permeable, highly elastomeric structure.

In manufacture, a first silicon oil containing OH functional group (suchas HO(Me₂SiO)_(n)H) and a second silicon oil containing H functionalgroup (such as (CH₃)₃SiO((SiHCH₃)O)_(n)Si(CH₃)₃) are filled into a moldfor a bra cup and dehydrating crosslinking reaction is carried out undercatalyzing by platinum catalyst at room temperature to form a foamedelastomer (i.e., the body 11). The mold may be heated to a temperatureof 70-120° C. to accelerate foaming. Fillers may be added to reinforcethe body 11. Once formed, the shape of the body 11, even heated, doesnot change. The body 11 is soft, highly elastomeric, durable,non-deformable, and shock-absorptive. Further, when in use, the body 11is in intimate contact with the skin of the user and is air-permeable toprovide wearing comfort while providing an aesthetically pleasingappearance and a comfortable sense of touching. This is because the body11 is a silicone foamed elastomer with high air-permeability.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention, whereinthe bra cup includes a body 12 with an inner face 16 and an outer face17. Further, the inner face 17 includes a bulged lower section 171 tolift the bosom of the user, providing an aesthetically pleasing effect.

FIG. 5 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention, wherein the bracup includes a body 13 with an inner face 16 and an outer face 17.Further, a layer of air-permeable, elastomeric cloth 20 is mounted tothe outer face 16 of the body 13, and a layer of air-permeable,elastomeric cloth 21 is mounted to the inner face 17 of the body 13.Each layer of air-permeable, elastomeric cloth 20, 21 may absorb sweatwithout sacrificing the air-permeability. Further, the layers ofair-permeable, elastomeric cloth 20 and 21 may provide an aestheticallypleasing effect.

FIG. 6 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the invention, wherein the bracup includes a body 14 having a hollow section. Preferably, the hollowsection is at a lower portion of the body 14. Preferably, the hollowsection is in the form of a chamber 18.

FIG. 7 illustrates a fifth embodiment of the invention, wherein the bracup includes a body 15 that is formed by two half pieces 19 and 190 thatare bonded together by spot bonding. Each half piece 19, 190 is asilicone foamed elastomer manufactured in a mold in a manner mentionedabove. Further, an air chamber 18 is delimited between the half pieces19 and 190. In this embodiment, a bladder 30 is mounted in the chamber18 by bonding, and fluid 31 such as oil, air, water, or powders can befilled in the bladder 30. The bladder 30 is formed by bonding two piecesof elastomeric plastic films by heat pressing to provide a sealed spacefor containing the fluid 31.

It is noted that the layers of air-permeable, elastomeric cloth 20 and21 in the fourth embodiment can be used in other embodiments.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described,numerous modifications and variations are still possible withoutdeparting from the essence of the invention. The scope of the inventionis limited by the accompanying claims.

1. A bra cup comprising: a convexo-concave body comprising an inner faceand an outer face, the body being a silicone foamed elastomer made froma first silicon oil containing OH functional group and a second siliconoil containing H functional group, and the body including a plurality ofholes in an interior and a surface of the body, providing anair-permeable, elastomeric structure.
 2. The bra cup as claimed in claim1, wherein the inner face of the body comprises a bulged lower section.3. The bra cup as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body comprises ahollow lower section.
 4. The bra cup as claimed in claim 3, wherein thebody comprises two half pieces that are bonded together.
 5. The bra cupas claimed in claim 3, wherein the body comprises a bladder mounted inthe hollow lower section.
 6. The bra cup as claimed in claim 5, whereinthe bladder contains fluid therein.
 7. The bra cup as claimed in claim1, wherein the body further comprises a layer of air-permeable clothmounted to the inner face thereof.
 8. The bra cup as claimed in claim 7,wherein the body further comprises a layer of air-permeable clothmounted to the outer face thereof.
 9. The bra cup as claimed in claim 2,wherein the body further comprises a layer of air-permeable clothmounted to the inner face thereof.
 10. The bra cup as claimed in claim9, wherein the body further comprises a layer of air-permeable clothmounted to the outer face thereof.
 11. The bra cup as claimed in claim3, wherein the body further comprises a layer of air-permeable clothmounted to the inner face thereof.
 12. The bra cup as claimed in claim11, wherein the body further comprises a layer of air-permeable clothmounted to the outer face thereof.
 13. The bra cup as claimed in claim4, wherein the body further comprises a layer of air-permeable clothmounted to the inner face thereof.
 14. The bra cup as claimed in claim 13, wherein the body further comprises a layer of air-permeable clothmounted to the outer face thereof.
 15. The bra cup as claimed in claim5, wherein the body further comprises a layer of air-permeable clothmounted to the inner face thereof.
 16. The bra cup as claimed in claim 15, wherein the body further comprises a layer of air-permeable clothmounted to the outer face thereof.
 17. The bra cup as claimed in claim6, wherein the body further comprises a layer of air-permeable clothmounted to the inner face thereof.
 18. The bra cup as claimed in claim 17, wherein the body further comprises a layer of air-permeable clothmounted to the outer face thereof.